Oil painting simulation and the like

ABSTRACT

SIMULATED PAINTINGS ARE MADE BY PRINTING MONOCHROME OR POLYCHROME PICTURES DIRECTLY ONTO THE SURFACE OF A SOFT, PLIABLE ACRYLIC POLYMER FILM WHICH IS THEN EMBEDDED INTO THE MESHES OF A CANVAS BACKING, OR OTHER TEXTURED BASE. OPTIONAL ADDITION OF ACRYLIC COATING ENHANCES SIMULATION OF PAINT TEXTURE. PRINTING MAY BE BY ANY PROCESS, INCLUDING TYPE, LITHOGRAPHY, PHOTOGRAPY AND DYE-TRANSFER.

J1me 1971 v F. G. EDWARDS 3,589,955 I OIL PAINTING SIMULATION AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. I7, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IVENTOR- 2 I FLETCHER s. EDWARDS ATTORNEYS June 2 1.971 F. G. EDWARDS OIL PAINTING SIMULATION AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1969 INVENTOR. FLETCHER G. EDWARDS BY 0W v ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,589,955 OIL PAINTING SIMULATION AND THE LIKE Fletcher G. Edwards, Denver, Colo. (General Delivery, Newfoundland, Pa. 18445) Filed Jan. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 792,069 Int. Cl. B44c 1/16, l/20 U.S. Cl. 156-59 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Simulated paintings are made by printing monochrome or polychrome pictures directly onto the surface of a soft, pliable acrylic polymer film which is then embedded into the meshes of a canvas backing, or other textured base. Optional addition of acrylic coating enhances simulation of paint texture. Printing may be by any process, including type, lithography, photography and dye-transfer.

This invention relates to the production of images on various surfaces, and more particularly relates to the printing of designs or pictures directly onto certain special films and the application of the printed film to a selected base material in such a manner as to retain the original line and color of the image and the image is enhanced by assuming the surface texture of the base. The invention contemplates the use of any desired type of printing, including mechanical and photographic, and may involve single or plural impressions in single or multiple colors. The invention enables the use of certain novel continuous operations and other mass production procedures.

The invention is particularly useful in making simulated paintings on artist or textured canvas, textured wood, or other artists base materials with maximum artistic display of the texture of the base.

An object of the invention is to provide a process for applying designs, pictures or other images to various base materials.

A further object is to provide a process for applying such images to textured base materials While retaining to a remarkable degree the texture of base and the clearness of line of the image.

A similar object is to provide a process for applying plural-colored images to textured base materials.

Another object is to provide a process for mechanically printing an image directly onto a special film composed of acrylic polymer.

Another object is to provide a method for applying a photographic picture directly an an acrylic polymer film.

Another object is to provide a method for applying a facsimile of a painting, design, watercolor, or the like art to an acrylic polymer film.

Another object is to provide a method for applying a colored photographic picture to a special acrylic polymer film.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved process for producing simulated paintings having enhanced visual appeal including texture and/ or color.

The object of a variation of the invention is to provide a continuous process for performing certain of the steps required in making simulated paintings according to the invention.

Other objects may be apparent from the following description.

In the prior art, many efforts have been made to produce simulated paintings, or to so produce colored pictures and, in particular, enlargements from color photographs that they might more or less impress the casual observer as being actual oil paintings. This is especially true with photographic reproductions or paintings. Fre- Patented June 29, 1971 quently, a simulated canvas texture is portrayed in the photographic image itself, while the image is actually printed on a smooth, non-textured base, or upon a canvas Whose meshes have been filled with paper pulp or other material to develop a smooth surface for reception of the image. However, in some cases, canvas or other artistically textured bases are used and the pictures are printed thereon in some crude manner. Invariably, such attempts have been disappointing in one or more ways; some procedures result in the meshes of the canvas being filled, with whatever pigment is used in the simulation, with the consequence that the texture of the canvas is objectionably obscured; other procedures, while retaining the texture of the canvas, do not provide a satisfactory impression of the replica or picture, only the high-spots of the texture being adequately coated with the ink; some attempts, while retaining some of the canvas texture, give a finished picture which is an obvious printing even to the casual observer; and still other efforts are merely attempts to duplicate the appearance of canvas by introducing artificial shading into the picture itself, in which case a canvas backing is sometimes glued to the back of a paper picture or other print, for whatever favorable etfect it may have upon a casual inspection.

For brevity in the foregoing discussion of the prior art, and at times in the following description, reference is made to canvas as the backing, or desired backing, for the paintings, or simulated paintings, under discussion. Modern painters frequently prefer to use, instead of canvas, other textured materials especially textured wood, textured fibreboard or the like. It is to be understood that such materials should be included in the scope of the term canvas as used herein when the meanmg permits.

The foregoing troubles of the prior art are largely overcome by the present invention, which may provide simulated paintings, even on a mass production basis, with enhanced realism both as to the true texture of the canvas and as to the simulation of the texture and color of the paint itself. Though not required in the working of the invention in its broader aspects, the invention provides the opportunity for a certain amount of individual handwork in enhancing the art simulation by adding brush stroke build-up and texture effect to the finished picture. It should be borne in mind that, in addition to the canvas texture, original oil paintings in general exhibit a noticeable thickness and sheen to the finished paint and a noticeable stroke-texture produced by the brush, spatula or other tool used by the atrist to apply the paint. The present invention contemplates simulating this thickness, sheen and texture to a remarkable degree.

In accordance with the invention in its broader aspects, I produce a special durable yet soft, pliable film of acrylic polymer, preferably 0.002" to 0.005" in thickness, by drying one or more layers of an aqueous emulsion of an acrylic polymer which has been modified by suitable modifiers. Though soft and pliable, the film should have sulficient strength or elasticity that a 24 x 36 inch sheet will support its own weight without permanent elongation or rupture.

Preferably, a White pigment, such as titanium oxide, is added to the acrylic emulsion in order that the resulting dry film will have a white opacity avoiding the need to size the canvas. This will give to the finished simulated painting the appearance of having been painted on a canvas previously prepared, as is common, by a sub-coat of white artist sizing (sometimes called gesso). Alternately, gesso may be applied directly to the film surface.

The desired picture, design or other image is printed on this special acrylic polymer film by an inked-type printing press (or by any other suitable means). Since the film is pliable, and might be stretched or otherwise deformed by the action of the printing press (or other printing 'means), the film is advantageously attached by temporary adhesives to a waxed, or silicone-coated, paper backing (or to a traveling waxed belt, or other carrier). The sheeting known to the trade as release-paper is excellently suited for this purpose. When a hand-fed press is used, it may be convenient to form the film directly on a Waxed paper matte designed to avoid slippage, as will be later described; while, with a continuous rotary press where the film is fed to the press from a roll, I find it convenient to spray the underside of the film with a quick-drying compatible acrylic coating which will remain tacky and hold the film in place to a carrier while it passes through the press but will quickly dry and permit separation.

When a plural-color image is to be made by successive impressions of separate colors, I find that the printing is facilitated and the appearance of the final picture is greatly enhanced by spray coating the printed film after each successive impression with a similar quick-drying acrylic coating, which will be sufiiciently dry at the instant of contact with the subsequent type to accept the ink and which will completely dry quickly thereafter. This procedure (l) locks in the color and inhibits running or bleeding of the inks, (2) gives extra body to the film, and (3) will lengthen the life of some unstable inks especially the fluorescence of fluorescent inks.

For the aforementioned spray I prefer to use a fastdrying dilute solution of acrylic ester resin which will be compatible with the acrylic polymer film and will dry clear. This may conveniently be applied from an aerosolpackaged can when a hand-fed press is used; or, in the case of a continuous press, from suitably mounted pressure-spray equipment. Though other formulae may be found desirable, satisfactory results have been obtained by the following:

Spray formula The halogenated hydrocarbons, which may be a Freon such as Freon l2, acts as the propellant to provide proper atomization of the spray, in the case of an aerosol package. If another spraying force is used, the Freon may be omitted or be substituted by other volatile materials suitable to provide the desired drying speed. The pigment silicates are for the purpose of giving a matte surface to the dried coating. They may be omitted as desired but, in any event, their concentration should not be so high as to seriously affect the transparency of the coatings and clarity of the picture.

The film with the image thereon, after suflicient drying, is now attached to the canvas (or other desired) backing. If desired since the acrylic polymers are thermoplastic, the printed film may be attached to the canvas by suitable heat and pressure alone; however, it may be found more satisfactory to use slow drying adhesive. A preferred adhesive for this purpose is the same, or similar, acrylic polymer emulsion as was used to form the acrylic film. Alternatively, a solvent for the acrylic polymer film (which may or may not contain in solution compatible resin) may be applied to the back of the film (i.e., the side to be applied next to the canvas) in sufiicient quantity to adequately soften the surface and make it temporarily tacky. The film is then applied and held to the canvas by means of a squeegee or other suitable roller. I prefer to use a roller having suificient flexibility to partially force the film into the meshes of the canvas, thereby imparting the desired texture to the printed surface. It will be noted that 4 either side of the printed film may be attached to the canvas backing; though I usually prefer to attach the film face-up (i.e., with the printed side of the film away from the canvas), the printed side may be attached with a resulting geometric reversal of the image.

Though, at this stage, the picture may be considered 7 finished and entirely satisfactory for some purposes, the

simulation of an oil painting may be further enhanced by applying an additional surface coating of the same, or similar, aqueous emulsion of acrylic polymer as was used to form the basic film. This coating may be applied with a brush, preferably working in harmony with the artists original brush strokes to simulate the paint buildup and brush-stroke texture.

In an alternate procedure, instead of printing the film and then attaching the printed film to the selected canvas base, the film before printing is placed in contact with the canvas backing (suitable adhesive means being present) and the package thus formed is fed to the press. In this instance, the pressure of the type assists in developing the canvas texture into the film while simultaneously permanently attaching the two. Care should be taken not to press the film heavily onto the canvas (i.e., not sutficiently hard to impress the canvas texture into the film) before the printing step, otherwise the printing will be imperfect and the clarity of the printed image will be correspondingly poor. In this alternate procedure, when a pluralcolor image is to be made by successive impressions of separate colors, only the last impression is made with type pressure heavy enough to develop the canvas texture into the film, the previous impressions being made with only a gentle pressure so that the type just kisses the film. This is to prevent the possibility that a canvas-texture might be developed in the film prior to (and thereby adversely affecting) a subsequent impression or the final impression. After drying, an additional surface coating of the acrylic polymer emulsion may be applied, as described before, to enhance the simulation of an oil painting and/ or to permit the addition of brush-stroke texture.

In another alternate procedure, instead of first forming the acrylic polymer film and then transferring it to the canvas backing followed by, the printing as described, I have found that I can form a smooth strata of film on the surface of the canvas (or other rough-textured surface) in such a manner that it will not fill or even substantially penetrate the mesh or texture and will still present a smooth, substantially unbroken surface for printing. In this procedure, the sized canvas surface is first coated by spraying with the fast drying acrylic resin ester spray formula previously described so that it will develop on the surface of the canvas an adhesive and a strata of film that will not allow the coating next described of acrylic polymer emulsion to penetrate the canvas mesh or texture. When the fast drying resin is dry, a layer of acrylic polymer emulsion is next applied (by spraying, brushing or other means of coating) in sufiicient quantity to form, when dry, an acrylic polymer film of desired thickness (e.g. 0.002"0.005"). When dry, the thus coated canvas is printed in the same manner as described in the previous alternative where the film is first formed, then applied to the canvas and then printed. As in the previous case, after printing the film is forced into the meshes of the canvas to develop the canvas texture by pressure applied by the type in the final printing stage and/or by subsequent pressure (as by a resilient roller) and/ or by rubbing (as by hand). Preferably, prior to the pressure roller or hand rubbing and after the ink of the final printing state is dry, the image is sprayed with the described acrylic resin spray to lock in the color pigment to the film and help protect against abrasion. Finally, an additional coat of acrylic polymer emulsion may be added for simulated paint build-up and brush texture, as before.

In the foregoing description the invention was explained in connection with the use of mechanical printing with type (usually half-tone). Similar procedure may be used with lithography, rotogravure, and the like by making suitable modifications which will suggest themselves to a skilled artisan. With suitable modification, the procedure may likewise be adapted to photographic methods and, in particular, to color-photography printing by the dyetransfer process. When using the photographic dye-transfer process to apply or transfer the image to the special film, it is recommendded that the selected subject if not a painting be photographed using various screens and techniques conducive to portraying the subject in tones that will give the best simultations of a painting when finalized by the process. This procedure will be found particularly advantageous in the production of simulated portraits of individuals or groups of people and/ or scenes and other subjects usually portrayed in the form of paintings.

The invention may better be understood by reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an embossed silicone or Wax-coated paper or plastic sheet, useful in practicing the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sheet shown in FIG. 1, taken as indicated by the line 22 and enlarged and exaggerated vertically for clearness.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the addition of a pool or coating of acrylic polymer emulsion in accordance with one form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a simplified view of a printing press indicating the impressing of an image on the acrylic film resulting from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the silicone-paperbacked acrylic polymer sheet resulting from FIG. 3 with the impression thereon of one color image of a multi-color picture (illustrated by the printing of the yellow petals of an illustrative picture of a yellow flower and a red tabletop), and illustrating the step of spraying a filmforming and locking substance onto the picture after the first color-impression.

FIG. 6 is a similar view as FIG. 5 but with the impression thereon of a second color image of the picture (illustrated by the printing of the green stern and leaves of the flower), and illustrating the step of spraying a similar film-forming substance onto the picture after the second color-impression.

FIG. 7 is a similar perspective view illustrating the step of peeling the printed acrylic polymer film from the silicone-coated sheet after a third and final color image is impressed, completing the color rendition of the picture.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective, partially cut away to illustrate the attaching of the picture-carrying acrylic film to a canvas backing, and illustrating the step of brushing a final coat of acrylic polymer onto the canvas backed picture.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram (chiefly in lateral eleva tion) illustrating the passage of a strip of acrylic resin film under successive printing rollers and the application thereto of successive color-images in accordance with the invention. For clarity of illustration the successive color images are shown as layers separated from each other and from the film to which they are applied. For sim plicity, many elements present in a conventional printing press are omitted and otherwise abbreviated. The diagram is broken to indicate the optional inclusion of one or more additional printing rollers, if desired.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the line 1010 of FIG. 9, showing the successive layers in order, which for clarity are shown spaced apart.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram similar to FIG. 9, illustrating an optional arrangement.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along the line 1212 of FIG. 11. It is similar to FIG. 10 but illustrates the different order of the layers resulting from the optional arrangement of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view in perpsective of the silicone-paperbacked acrylic polymer sheet resulting from FIG. 3 and illustrating, in accordance with one preferred method of the invention, the step of peeling the acrylic polymer film from the silicone-paper sheet.

FIG. 14 a view in perspective, partially cut away to illustrate the attachment of the acrylic resin film resulting from FIG. 13 to a canvas backing in accordance with said preferred method.

FIG. 15 is a simplified view of a printing press as in FIG. 4, but illustrating the use of a resilient bed to provide for minimum type pressure in certain of the printing steps in accordance with said preferred method.

As indicated before, the invention involves the printing of a desired picture, or other image, upon an acrylic polymer film and the attachment of the printed film to a canvas backing in such a way as to retain clarity of line and maximum image sharpness during printing While obtaining unequaled canvas texture in the finished product. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate one method of forming such a film. For this purpose I may use a waxed, or siliconecoated, paper or cardboard sheet 10 having a border embossing 11 which forms a dam at least about 0.003" high around a central area 12. Into this central area 12 is measured, such as by pipette 13, a sufficient amount of an aqueous emulsion of an acrylic polymer to form, upon drying, a film of acrylic resin 14 of desired thickness, preferably 0.002" to 0.003".

The particular acrylic polymer emulsion spread on area 12 should be so selected and modified by various available components as to provide a thin film which, when dry, is soft and pliable yet durable enough to permit the handling herein described withoutrupture. Thus, the aqueous emulsion of acrylic polymer (as supplied from pipette 13 for example) may typically have the following approximate properties:

Base of continuous phase Water.

Solids content, percent 45-55. Emulsifier Non-ionic. Appearance Milky-white. Density, lbs/gal. 8.7-8.9.

pH 4-10. Viscosity, cps 40-800. Particle size, micron Less than 0.1. Molecular weight of polymer (average) l.25 10 Index of refraction of polymer 1.48.

Specific gravity of solids 1.09-1.16. Pigment (TiO percent 0 to 2. Appearance of dry film Clear to white. Hardness of film (Knoop) 0.8.

Hardness of film (Tukon) 0.5-4.5.

The proper selection of ingredients is within the skill of a chemist trained in this field. In addition to propertycontrolling modifiers, I prefer to mix with the acrylic emulsion to be added from pipette 13 a small amount of titanium oxide so that the dry film 14 will have a white opacity enhancing the final picture. Alternately, rather than adding titanium oxide to the aqueous acrylic emulsion, it may be more convenient to coat the dry film 14 with a suitable white coating material such as, for example, a flexible white spray paint.

When dry, film 14 (preferably still attached to sheet 10) is placed in a printing press as illustrated in FIG. 4 by press 15 wherein a printing is made on the surface of the film by inked type 16 forced into contact with the surface of film 14 by screw 17.

Usually a colored picture is desired, in which case a plurality of printings is usually required with a separate printing from a different type for each color. In FIG. 5 there is indicated a yellow flower image 18 resulting from a first printing with yellow ink. FIG. 5 also illustrates a preferred step of the invention, namely, after the ink from a printing impression is sufl'lciently dry, the resulting image is sprayed with a fast-drying dilute solution of acrylic resin 20 which may conveniently come from an aerosol packaged can 21.

After the spray 20 has adequately dried, the film 14 and its carrier is returned to press 15 and a second impression is made by a second type face with ink of a second color. FIG. 6 illustrates the result of such a second printing, where the image of a green stalk and leaves 23 has been added to the picture. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the image is now given a second coat of spray (as from can 21') and, when properly dry, returned to the press 15 and printed with a third color of ink. The steps indicated by FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are repeated as many times as required to produce the desired coloring in the final picture.

After the final printing, the film 14 with the picture printed thereon is peeled or stripped olf the paper base 10, as shown in FIG. 7, and applied face up (or face down, if desired) to a desired canvas backing 25 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Proper attachment of film 14 to backing 25 may be obtained by heat and pressure and/ or an adhesive which may be similar to the acrylic polymer emulsion which was dispensed from pipette 13 (FIG. 3) or the acrylic resin spray 20 (FIG. 5).

In a preferred form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the complete color-picture (illustrated as comprising yellow flower 18, green stem and leaves 23, and red table top 26) is given a final coat 27 of the same or similar acrylic polymer emulsion (but omitting the titanium oxide) applied preferably by brush, such as brush 28, with bristles coarse enough to produce a brush texture. At this stage, considerable opportunity is afforded the operator to exercise his skill by working in harmony with the original artists brush strokes to attain maximum simulation of an oil painting.

The foregoing description in connection with FIGS. 1-8 is given to illustrate certain principles of the invention and not necessarily to limit the scope thereof, and various alternatives may be included in its scope. As an example, various types of presses may be substituted for press 15. Likewise, other methods of forming film 14 may be used instead of the embossed paper base 10. The chosen canvas backing 25 may be substituted for the paper base 10 in the steps illustrated by FIGS. 1-4, and the pressure of the press 15 utilized to efiect the binding of film 14 to canvas 25.

However, when the canvas backing 25 is substituted for the paper base 10, certain precautions must be taken, particularly when a plurality of successive color printings is employed, in order to avoid premature development of the canvas texture in the surface of the canvas-backed film whereby the results of any subsequent printing step would be seriously and adversely affected. To this end, the pressure applied by the press 15 should be greatly restricted in each of the successive printings except the last, as by introducing a pressure absorbing means such as a soft foamrubber pad 30 (FIG. 15) between the canvas 25 and the base-plate 31 of press 15.

In this alternative the film 14 of acrylic polymer may be formed advantageously as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and as described previously in connection therewith. After the film 14 is dry (FIG. 3), it may be peeled readily from the paper base 10 as illustrated in FIG. 13, and applied to the desired canvas 25 as illustrated in FIG. 14 (suitable adhesive means being present). The film 14 with its canvas backing 25 is now inserted in press 15 with a suitable pressure-absorbing means, as illustrated in FIG. 15 by foam rubber pad 30, and a printing with the first color is made by controlling screw 17 so that the typeface 16 lightly, but sufficiently, contacts the surface of the. film 14. The image from the first printing, when dry, may be sprayed with acrylic resin solution 20 as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the canvas backed film returned to the press 15 where a second color printing is made in the same manner as the first printing, using resilient means 30 to limit the pressure of the type. The image may then be sprayed as described prior in connection with FIG. 6. For the final color-impression the resilient means 30 is removed from the press (or otherwise rendered inactive) and the final printing is made with enough force applied, as from screw 17, to force the film 14 into the texture of the canvas 25. The color image, now complete with the film 14 mounted upon canvas 25 and with the texture of the canvas 25 developed in the film 14 and in the image 18, 23 and 26 as illustrated in FIG. 8, may be given a final coat 27 of acrylic polymer emulsion applied as desired to produce a final simulated paint build-up and brush-stroke texture.

In the foregoing description given in connection with FIGS. 1-8, certain essentials of the invention were set forth in connection with piece operation, as if only a few, or even only one, finished canvas-backed pictures are to be made at a time. The invention in its broader aspects contemplates a continuous or semi-continuous process, illustrated diagrammatically by FIGS. 9 to 13, for producing many simulated reproductions of a single painting with a minimum of hand-work.

In FIG. 9 the numeral 101 indicates a roll of acrylic film 102 fed (by power means not shown) under a series of printing rollers indicated by rollers 103, 103' 103 and with a separate roller for each required color. The diagram is broken between rollers 103' and 103 to indicate the possible addition of more rollers to the series if additional colors are to be printed. Means for inking the rollers with separate colored inks, are not shown but will be readily understood by anyone skilled in the printing art. Film 102 is 0.002" to 0.005" in thickness and somewhat pliable and must be prevented from stretching during the printing. For this purpose, film 102 is temporarily adhered to a waxed (or silicone coated) endless belt 104 traveling between pulleys 105 and 106. Temporary adherence may be supplied in a number of ways, used singly or in combination. A coating 107 of temporary adhesive may be sprayed on the underside of film 102 as by spray nozzle 108 suplied from tank 109 through manifold 110 and line 111. This temporary adhesive may advantageously be the same dilute acrylic resin solution described earlier herein; its main requirements are that it be compatible with film 102, will remain tacky for a short time thereby holding film 102 firmly against belt 104 while passing under the printing rollers, and dry rapidly permitting prompt separation from the belt 104 when dry. Likewise, the waxed belt 104 may be made porous or perforated and suction supplied to its underside as through elements 112, 112' 112" and suction pump 113. The suction holds the film 102 against belt 104 while passing under the printing rollers 103, 103' 103" and releases thereafter. If desired, adhesion of film 102 to belt 104 may be obtained or enhanced by generating electrostatic forces between the two by any of various known means.

As film 102 passes under roller 103 a first printed image 115 is impressed thereon in the color of the ink supplied to roller 103. As it passes under roller 103 a second printed image 115' is impressed thereon in the respective color of the ink supplied to roller 103', and a final image 115" is superimposed in the same way by roller 103". Better printing and overall enhanced results are obtained by adding, between each printing, coatings of acrylic resin from the solution in tank 109, as through spray nozzles 116 and 1116'. If desired, additional coatings may be added after the last printing and/ or before the initial printing through nozzles 116" and 117. If more than three colors are to be printed, an additional roller, spraynozzle and vacuum element is inserted in the printing train for each additional color, as is indicated by the break in the diagram.

In the diagram of FIG. 9, the film 102, the adhesive coating 107, and the printed images 115, 1 15 and 115" are indicated by single lines separated from each other by spaces for illustrative purposes. Actually, of course, the images and adhesive are tightly adhered to the film 102.

These same individual layers are illustrated in the same manner in FIG. along with a canvas layer 120 which is added from roll 121 by passage between pressure rolls 122 and 123, which may be heated if desired by means not shown. Attachment of the canvas .120 to the printed film may also be effected by an adhesive applied as indicated by spray 127 which may be an acrylic polymer emulsion supplied by tank 128; or, in some cases, the acrylic resin solution from tank 109 may be found to be satisfactory.

In the procedure just described in connection with FIG. 9 the finished picture, as shown in FIG. 10, will have the canvas 120 mounted on the printed side of the film 102 (i.e., the printings 115, 115' and 115" will be between the canvas 120 and the film 102) and the finished picture will be viewed (geometrically reversed) through the film 102. Although, in some instances, this is desirable in that the film may provide additional illusion of paint build-up, in other cases it may be desired to mount the canvas on the back of the film (i.e., on the side opposite to the printing). This may readily be done by changing the position of the canvas roll 121 and the spray .127, to that indicated in FIG. 9 with dotted lines to indicate canvas roll 121a feeding canvas 12011 to roller 123 after acrylic film 102 has been sprayed with adhesive from spray 127a.

The mounted, continuous series of canvas-backed pictures leaving rolls 122 and 123 are cut into individual pictures 126, as by guillotine 125 or other chopper.

The individual canvas-mounted pictures 126 may now be individually hand-finished as set forth more fully in connection with FIG. 8.

In a variation of the invention the canvas backing is applied to the film as it is fed to the printing rollers (rather than after the printing is completed as illustrated in FIG. 9). This variation is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 11, wherein acrylic polymer film 202 from roll 201 is coated on its underside by an adhesive, as from spray 227 supplied from tank 228, and adhered lightly to canvas 220 (from roll 221) by passage between guide rollers 222 and 223. The canvas-backed film is then fed to printing rollers 203, 203' 203" where each roller prints its successive color image on the film; and the final roller 203", while printing its respective image on the film, simultaneously impresses the texture of the canvas onto the film, thus creating a far better simulation of painting than had the texture of the canvas 220' been impressed into the film 202 prior to the printing. An important feature of the invention is that no pressure should be applied, as by rollers 222, 223, 203 and/or 203", sufiicient to force the film 202 into the meshes of the canvas 220 prior to its being fed to the last printing roller 203". To this end, the printing pressure of rollers 203 and 203' is adjusted so that the type just contacts the film 202 just sufliciently to print the respective colored inks upon the film without impressing substantially any texture of the canvas into the film. Since, in this procedure, printing roller 203 serves to perform two functions simultaneously, namely, printing the final color and impressing the texture of the canvas, operation is facilitated substantially thereby. If desired, heat may be applied to the film 202 and/or its canvas support 222 (by any convenient and/or suitable means, not shown) just before passing under roller 203" to assist in bringing out the canvas texture (film 202 being thermoplastic).

Since, in the variation illustrated by FIG. 11, the film 202 is attached (though lightly) to a canvas backing 220 and is restrained from distortion thereby, the waxed endless belt 104 of FIG. 9 (and certain other elements, as suction elements 112, 112', 112", pump 113 etc.) may be omitted, though they may be used as desired for additional distortion control. Accordingly, the corresponding elements are shown in FIG. 11 and are respectively indicated by the numerals 204, 212, 212', 212" and 213.

During the passage of film 202 with its canvas backing 220 under the successive printing rollers 203, 203' 203" the film is given spray coatings of acrylic resin, as indicated by sprays 216, 216, 216" and 217 supplied from tank 209 and manifold 2.10, as more fully explained for the variation illustrated in FIG. 9. After passage of the canvas-backed printed strip of film from the final printing, it is cut up into individual pictures and the individual pictures are hand-finished with a final coat of acrylic polymer emulsion as explained in connection with FIG. 8.

As in FIG. 9, the digram of FIG. 11 indicates canvas 220, adhesive layer 207, film strip 202, and the printed images 215, 21-5' and 215" by single lines shown spaced apart from each other, the spacing between only for the purpose of clarity of illustration. In practice, of course, the images, film and canvas are closely adhered to each other. These individual layers are illustrated in FIG. 12 wherein they are likewise shown spaced apart for clarity but must be interpreted as composing a unitary article.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the descrip tion herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A process for producing an image such as a picture, pattern or design on canvas or other backing, comprising:

(a) first forming a thin acrylic polymer continuous,

self-supporting film,

(b) then forming an image on one surface of said film, and

(c) aifixing said film to a desired backing.

2. The process of claim 1 in which the thin acrylic polymer film is formed before forming said image by drying an aqueous emulsion of acrylic polymer having the following approximate properties:

Continuous phase base Water. Solids content, percent 45-55. Emulsifier Non-ionic. Appearance Milky-white. Density, lbs/gal. 8.7-8.9.

pH 4-10. Viscosity, cps. 40-800. Particle size, micron Less than 0.1. Molecular weight of polymer (av.) x10 Index of refraction of polymer 1.48. Specific gravity of solids 1.09-1.16. Pigment, percent 0-2.

to yield a smooth, thin pliable film having the following approximate properties:

Appearance Clear to white. Hardness (Knoop) 0.8. Hardness (Tukon) 0.5-4.5.

Elasticity Sufiicient to support its own weight without permanent deformation.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the thin acrylic polymer film is formed before forming said image by spreading a layer of an aqueous acrylic emulsion onto a release sheet and then drying said emulsion to form a self-supporting film, whereby said film is formed releasably attached to said release sheet, and wherein said film is stripped from said release sheet after the image is formed on said film and before said film is aflixed to said backing.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the thin acrylic polymer film is formed, before forming said image thereon, by spreading a layer of an aqueous acrylic emulsion 1 1 onto the desired backing sufiicient upon drying to form, affixed to said backing, a smooth film, then drying said emulsion to form a self-supporting film suitable to receive the image, and then forming said image on said film.

5. The process of claim 1 in which the image is formed on the acrylic polymer film by printing with inked type.

6. The process of claim 5 in which the said image is a plural-color print and is applied to the said film by a successive plurality of impressions of type each inked with a separate color.

7. The process of claim 1 in which the image is formed on the acrylic polymer film by developing a photographic image in a sensitized coating on the said film.

8. The process of claim 1 in which the image is formed on the acrylic polymer film by dye-transfer.

9. The process of claim 8 in which the image is a polychrome photograph and is applied to the said film by successive applications of dye-transfer.

10. The process of claim 9 in which, between at least two of the successive printings, the partial image is coated by spraying with a quick drying solution of acrylic resin and then drying, whereby the partial image is coated with a thin layer of acrylic resin and the subsequent impression is made upon the resultant coating.

11. The process of claim 1 which includes a subsequent step of brushing upon at least a portion of the exposed face of the film and image, after aflixing to the desired backing, an aqueous emulsion of acrylic polymer 12 in amount sufficient when dry to provide a desired brushstroke texture.

12. A process for producing an image such as a picture, pattern or design upon a desired textured surface such as canvas, comprising:

(a) first forming a thin acrylic continuous, selfsupporting polymer film,

(b) then forming an image on one surface of said (c) afiixing said film to a desired textured backing,

'(d) then applying a pressure to the surface of said film suflicient to deform said film permanently to conform to the texture of said backing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,810,673 3/1953 Lutje 156-241 3,334,003 8/1967 Edwards l56-240X 20 3,434,861 3/1969 Luc l56240X FOREIGN PATENTS 632,594 12/1961 Canada 156240 25 VERLIN R. PENDEGRASS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 156-240 

